Today's News

The scent of cinnamon and spices from a couple of cooling apple pies filters out of the tiny kitchen. Bustling through the doorway and trailing behind the delicate aroma is Gloria Jean, the sole baker. Her signature four-layer blueberry cake, along with friendship breads, homemade cookies and other treats account for the success of her namesake half of the business venture: Gloria Jean’s Sweets.

Gadsden County Commissioners voted July 18 to approve payments for additional security to the W.A. Woodham Building. The building houses both the Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office and Quincy Police Department.
County Administrator Robert Presnell said the total cost of the project was $5,233, and Sonitrol and Davis Safe & Lock were paid to complete it. He said the finance department had already paid for the project.
Commissioner Eric Hinson asked why it was not approved before the work was done.

On Friday, July 28, the fellowship hall at New Bethel AME Church will host a very special occasion, as the congregation is in the midst of celebrating 126 years as an organization.
The guest speaker will be acclaimed southern historian Dr. Canter Brown Jr.
Brown, who has been a historian for more than 32 years, researched the history of New Bethel and wrote a 30-plus page document about the AME church’s history in Gadsden County, which has been featured as an ongoing series in the Times.

BASF is encouraging young girls to become leaders in engineering and science. Twenty-two SciGirls campers visited the global company’s Quincy site on Thursday, July 20, for a day filled with exploration and imagination.
SciGirls is a two-week camp that was launched in 2006 and is run by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory and WFSU, according to the MagLab’s website.

The Gadsden County Sheriff’s Office is investigating an alleged sexual encounter between an inmate and a Quincy police officer.
The sheriff’s office released a statement last week, which stated: “After interviewing the two parties, the Sheriff’s Office confirmed that two instances of inappropriate sexual conduct had taken place between the them.”
According to the statement, GCSO and QPD quickly took action, placing Officer Carl Brown on administrative leave with pay.

The Gadsden County School Board hosted Unity in the Community Day on Saturday.
School officials met with parents, guardians and students at West Gadsden Middle School and Shanks Middle to answer any questions they had about the upcoming school year, especially with the mergers.
Some of the topics up for discussion were bus information, parental and community involvement and classes.

Locals and tourists alike hit the pavement for Havana’s sidewalk sale.
What did they find? Many found buried treasures, while other were in hopes of finding the perfect piece to make their home decor complete.
Thrifting is quite adventurous, with the hunt and excitement of finding the perfect item at a nice price.

Three suspects accused of gunning down 19-year-old Kentrell Thomas in Quincy have been charged with first-degree
murder.
Mark Williams, 20; Keveonte Thomas, 19; and Montayvius Thomas, 16, were all charged with premeditated first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder in connection with Thomas’ death.
They were arraigned Thursday, July 6, in Gadsden County Court.

A grieving dad is on a mission. He wants the world to know his daughter’s name, and her story.
Bill Conner left Madison, Wis., on May 22 — the day after his son Austin graduated from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee — with his daughter’s ashes tucked away in the front of a red handlebar bag. He’s traveling across the country, on his bicycle, to Fort Lauderdale where his 20-year-old daughter Abigail died. Before making the trip, Conner said he sold everything he owned, except his car and two bins of clothes.

Think you could turn your secret recipe for chocolate chip cookies into a serious business but worried about too much red tape?
An update to Florida’s cottage baking laws could give enterprising home bakers a big boost.